Mainstreaming gender in research: between policy gains and political pushback

Marcela Linková and Lut Mergaert

Chapter 21 in Research Handbook on Gender Mainstreaming, 2026, pp 275-286 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: This chapter examines the evolution of gender equality policy in European research, situating it within broader global efforts to mainstream gender in science and higher education. It focuses on mainstreaming gender through the institutional change approach and growing policy attention to gender-based violence. Drawing on recent European policy initiatives and projects, it explores key policy advances and discusses persistent barriers, including fragmentation across countries, conceptual ambiguity, and gaps between policy and implementation. The chapter also analyses current political negotiations and the related risk of backsliding amidst growing anti-gender backlash, framing this as a critical threat to further policy progress. The European Union experience highlights the critical role of stakeholder mobilization and cooperation, multi-level governance, and gender scholarship for shaping gender equality policies and mainstreaming efforts in shifting political landscapes.

Keywords: Anti-gender Movement; Gender Backlash; Gender Equality Plans; Gender-based Violence; Institutional Change; Intersectionality; Inclusiveness Research Policy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781035353415
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